Frederick Hengl, Calif.man, pleads not guilty to killing, cooking wife

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Frederick Hengl at a court hearing in California on Nov. 21, 2012

/ KFMB-TV

(CBS/AP) VISTA, Calif. - Frederick Hengl, a 68-year-old California man, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to decapitating his wife and cooking her body parts on the stove at their Oceanside home.

Police said they responded to neighbors' complaints Friday morning about a foul odor coming from the home of Hengl and his 73-year-old wife, Anna Faris.

The first officer entered the two-bedroom, bungalow-style house through a window and saw three pans of meat cooking on the stove that was later discovered to be parts of Faris' body. Her severed head was found in a freezer.

It is believed Faris was killed sometime in November. Authorities have not yet determined how she died.

There were numerous pieces of freshly cut bone found around the home, said Deputy District Attorney Katherine Flaherty. A meat grinder, a saw, a boning knife and other cutting materials were also in the house.

Neighbor Eric Chavez told U-T San Diego that the foul odor from the house grew unbearable after someone placed a fan in one of the home's windows. The odor lingered for more than a week.

Flaherty said there was no evidence of cannibalism.

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by 3lilones November 25, 2012 5:11 PM EST: do any of you livre in oceanside..(i do)
what a wierdo he was.....; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 November 23, 2012 9:23 PM EST: He didn't eat her. He was turning her into glue.; Reply to this comment


by Resin-Smoker November 23, 2012 8:49 PM EST: I guess they could cut him open to examine his stomach contents... However that might infringe on his rights or something, never mind the woman he was cooking!

And yes I agree with the other posters here, the DA is an idiot.; Reply to this comment

by pedmel November 23, 2012 5:05 PM EST

On what basis does the District Attorney conclude that this guy didn't eat or wasn't eating or hasn't eaten his wife? What was he cooking her for? He looks like he's been eating some awfully nasty things for a long time.

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by bsnews12 November 25, 2012 2:57 PM EST: Read the story genius. They did not say her didn't eat his wife. They said there was no proof he did eat his wife. Assuming is 9/10ths of stupidity.